It's 'Mo Goes to Washington'

Mo Glickman, 13, recently journeyed to Washington, D.C. to encourage congress to continue aid to Israel, in spite of the sequestration. Mo wrote his speech unaided; the opportunity to stand up and be counted as a friend of Israel, he said, is very important to him. "You might say that I was not nervous at any point," Mo said, wryly, "until I opened my mouth to speak. But I think that it went well." COURTESY PHOTO

By JENNIFER SHEACorrespondent

Published: Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 10:32 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 10:32 a.m.

Mo Glickman, 13, is a passionate, compassionate, patriotic little dude. He recently journeyed to Washington, D.C. where he addressed senators and congressman to encourage support for Israel.

Mo said that he joined hundreds of "my fellow lobbyists," at the AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee event.

It was the middle school student's first trip to D.C.

His initial impression, he said, was that "Washington is everything that you'd expect our nation's capital to be."

Temple Emanu El Rabbi Brenner Glickman accompanied his son to the committee meetings. The conference is important, Glickman said, "Because AIPAC has a very small staff — we are most effective because we are citizens who fly up on our own dime, we are committed."

Mo's "lobbying speech," he said, implored the senators to continue to provide previously agreed upon support for Israel — despite the sequestration.

"We owe this to this nation of innovation," Mo said. "Israel is our only reliable ally in the region."

Both of Mo's parents are rabbis; the young scholar is a voracious reader and said that he truly comprehends his rich heritage and the traditions of his faith. He wrote his speech unaided; the opportunity to stand up and be counted as a friend of Israel, he said, is very important to him.

Mo added, "I practiced a lot, so I would not stumble over words and so I could place the emphasis on the proper words."

"You might say that I was not nervous at any point," the cautious young man said, wryly, "until I opened my mouth to speak. But I think that it went well."

Chestnut hair past his shoulders and the occasional giggle belie the maturity of the teenager; he is exceptionally well informed and politically astute.

"I dream of becoming a congress person," Mo said. "There are a lot of things that I want to accomplish.

"We were all created equal and I think that equality in America is the most important social issue. I think that everybody deserves a fair go," he said.

When he is not speaking before legislators, Mo is reading. When he is not reading — "I am wishing that I was reading," he said, grinning, "But I also write, I have a lot of books in the making."

Mo attends Goldie Feldman Academy; he collects old coins and for fun, watches Pardon the Interruption on ESPN.

According to his dad, Mo loves panel discussions and the intelligent banter and arguing between Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon, former Washington Post reporters.

"When we were in Washington, he was nonstop, he was just giddy," Glickman said. "Mo was the only 13-year-old speaker there.

"I think that kids have a power that grown-ups just don't have — he definitely made an impression," Glickman said, proudly.

A congressional career must wait until Mo has finished middle school but encouraging others is a daily task for the erudite youngster.

"Remember, if you can talk to one person and get them to understand your point of view — no matter what your point of view is — you have made a difference in the world," Mo said, beaming.

<p>Mo Glickman, 13, is a passionate, compassionate, patriotic little dude. He recently journeyed to Washington, D.C. where he addressed senators and congressman to encourage support for Israel.</p><p>Mo said that he joined hundreds of "my fellow lobbyists," at the AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee event. </p><p>It was the middle school student's first trip to D.C. </p><p>His initial impression, he said, was that "Washington is everything that you'd expect our nation's capital to be."</p><p>Temple Emanu El Rabbi Brenner Glickman accompanied his son to the committee meetings. The conference is important, Glickman said, "Because AIPAC has a very small staff — we are most effective because we are citizens who fly up on our own dime, we are committed."</p><p>Mo's "lobbying speech," he said, implored the senators to continue to provide previously agreed upon support for Israel — despite the sequestration.</p><p>"We owe this to this nation of innovation," Mo said. "Israel is our only reliable ally in the region."</p><p>Both of Mo's parents are rabbis; the young scholar is a voracious reader and said that he truly comprehends his rich heritage and the traditions of his faith. He wrote his speech unaided; the opportunity to stand up and be counted as a friend of Israel, he said, is very important to him. </p><p>Mo added, "I practiced a lot, so I would not stumble over words and so I could place the emphasis on the proper words."</p><p>"You might say that I was not nervous at any point," the cautious young man said, wryly, "until I opened my mouth to speak. But I think that it went well."</p><p>Chestnut hair past his shoulders and the occasional giggle belie the maturity of the teenager; he is exceptionally well informed and politically astute.</p><p>"I dream of becoming a congress person," Mo said. "There are a lot of things that I want to accomplish.</p><p>"We were all created equal and I think that equality in America is the most important social issue. I think that everybody deserves a fair go," he said. </p><p>When he is not speaking before legislators, Mo is reading. When he is not reading — "I am wishing that I was reading," he said, grinning, "But I also write, I have a lot of books in the making."</p><p>Mo attends Goldie Feldman Academy; he collects old coins and for fun, watches Pardon the Interruption on ESPN.</p><p>According to his dad, Mo loves panel discussions and the intelligent banter and arguing between Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon, former Washington Post reporters.</p><p>"When we were in Washington, he was nonstop, he was just giddy," Glickman said. "Mo was the only 13-year-old speaker there.</p><p>"I think that kids have a power that grown-ups just don't have — he definitely made an impression," Glickman said, proudly.</p><p>A congressional career must wait until Mo has finished middle school but encouraging others is a daily task for the erudite youngster.</p><p>"Remember, if you can talk to one person and get them to understand your point of view — no matter what your point of view is — you have made a difference in the world," Mo said, beaming.</p>